Selective signaling system.



R. N. HILL.

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILE) FEB. 24. 1914.

RALPH N. HILL, OF NEW YORK, N, Yl, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH N. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Selective Signaling Systems, of Which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to selective signaling systems and more particularly to a sys tem of this class for facilitating the despatching of trains.

The object of the invention in general is to provide an efficient and reliable system, positive in its operation and easily maintained.

In accordance with this invention, selectively operated signals are provided which are under the control of the despatcher both for operation and release, Means are also provided at each of the waystations for giving an answer-back signal, both upon the operation and release of the signaling device. For this purpose a single answer-back apparatus is provided which gives two distinctive signals, one upon the operation of the signal, the other upon its release.

The drawing is a diagram of the apparatus and connections of a system embodying this invention.

In the drawing, A designates a despatching or sending station, and B and C designate waystations joined with each other and with the despatching station by means of line wires 5 and 6.

Located at the despatching station are three impulse transmitting devices 7, 8 and .9 in a local circuit including a source of energy 10 and the windings 11 of an impulse relay. The impulse relay includes normally open contacts 12 and 13 and a normally closed contact .14. The closure of the contacts 12, and 13 connects a source. of current 15 with the line wires 5 and 6., The contact 14 in the operation-of the impulse relay.

opensandcloses a bridge of the line including the line wires. The retardation coils and the Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 21, 1915..

Application filedFebruary 24, 1914. Serial No. 820,516.

condenser are for the purpose of graduating the current impulses from the impulse relay in order that they will not cause a disagreeable thump in telephonic apparatus, which may be connected with the line wires during the transmission of the impulses.

Located at each of the waystations B and device comprising a quick acting magnet 25 and a slow acting magnet 26 for operating stepping and holding pawls 27 and 28, which control the movement of a ratchet wheel 29. The circuit closing device shown in the drawing is of the same general type as that disclosed in Patent 1,101,679 to J. P. C. Boswau. Carried by the ratchet wheel 29 18 a contact arm 30 adapted in the move- '(J is a step-by-step selective circuit closing ment of said'ratchet wheel to engage a contact spring 31. The selectors are preferably moving current from the line. The selectorsmay be connected in' a local circuit controlled by a relay 35 in bridge of the line wires as shown at station B, or the selector magnets may be connected in bridge of the line wlres as shown at station C. Impulse transmitter 7 at station A is for operating tire selector at station B, 8 for station C, and

9 's the release key for all selectors.

en the circuit closing contacts 30 and 31 are closed there is completed a circuit for an electromagnet 40'. This electromagnet 40, upon energization, attracts an armature 41, which engages and closes contacts 42, 43 and 44 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Carried by the armature 41 is a pawl 45, which engages a ratchet'wheel 46 mounted upon one end of a shaft 47, upon the other end of which is mounted a contact controlling wheel 48 having a notched periphery. Engaging the notched periphery of the wheel 48 is a spring contact member 49 adapted as the shaft 47 is rotated under control of the pawl 45 and the ratchet wheel 46, to alternately open and close a contact 50 incircuit with an electromagnet 55.8011

trolling a semaphore signal 56, which may be of the ordinary banjo type, although any form of signal may be used in this invention. When the contact member 49 is riding in the lower portion 'of a notch on the j contact controlling wheel 48, the circuit through the signal magnet 55 will be open and'the semaphore signal 56 will stand at normal or safety positlon.

. Referring now to the answer-back signaling scheme of this device, 60 designates a' direct current motor adapted to drive a shaft 61, which carries a codecontact wheel 62 for closinga contact 63, which puts a I toneupon the line wires which may be heard in a receiver connected with the line wires at the station A. As shown, the motor field has two windings 64 and 65, the circuit through the winding 64 being adapted to be closed when the signal 56 stands at normal position, and that through 65 when the signal 56 is in its operated position. The direction of .rotation ofthe motor, when current is through. the field winding 64, will be opposite to that which it will rotate when current is flowing through the field winding 65., Thus, if the motor rotates in a counter-clockwise direction when the signal stands at normal or safety position, it will rotate in a clockwise direction when the signal 56 is moved to danger position and the circuit through the said motor is closed. With the particular interrupter wheel shown, the rotation of the motor in a countor-clockwise direction will put a tone upon the line which will consist of a long and three short impulses. When driven in the other or clockwise direction, the tone will be interrupted by three short impulses and one long one. This will give the despatcher accurate information as to the'state of the signal at" any station since a diflerent code may be provided at each station.

Referring now to the operation of the system, it will be assumed that the despatcher wishes to operate the signal 56 at station B. This he will do by first operating the call transmitter 7. The operation ment of the ratchet wheel 29 to close the contacts 30 and 31, whereupon an energizlng c rcuit is closed through the electromagnet 40. ThlS clrcult may be traced from the source of energy 69, conductor 75, winding of magnet 40, conductor 76, and contacts 31 and 30 of the selector to ground at 77. This circuit will remain closed until opened by the despatcher sending impulses over the line wires to release the selector. When the magnet 40 attracts its armature 41, it closes the contacts 42, 43 and 44 and also advances the ratchet wheel 46 one step. The one step movement of the ratchet wheel 46 causes the interrupter wheel 48 to be moved from a position in which the contact spring 49 engages a low portion of the perlphery to a point where it will engage a high portion, thus closing the contact 50 and completing an energizing circuit for the signal magnet 55. This circuit may be traced from battery 69, through conductor 78, conductor 79, contact 50, conductor 80 and winding ofsignal magnet 'to ground. The energization of this magnet will cause the signal 56 to swing to the right, opening contact 82 and closing contact 83. Upon the closure of the contact 83 there will be completed a circuit through the motor 60 which may be traced from the battery 69, the conductor 78, the armature 41, the contact 42, conductor 84, the winding of motor 60, field windin 65, conductor 85, contact 82 to ground. urrent in this path will causethe motor to rotate in a clockwise direction, which will put a tone upon the line from the motor commutator interrupted by'the interrupter 62 to give an interrupted tone of three short interruptions and a long one, which will continue until the despatcher releases the selector and thus opens the circuit of'the electromagnet 40. The circuit for this will be from line conductor 5, through conductor 86, condenser 87, conductor 88, contact 43, conductor 84, the brushes and commutator of the motor 60, contact 63, conductor 89, contact 44, conductor 90, condenser 91 and conductor 92 to line conductor 6. By providing an answerback circuit of this kind, the commutator of the motor serves to provide a tone, while the contact wheel 62, coiiperating with contact 63, provides the code.

When the despatcher has satisfied himself by the operation of the answer-back that the signal at station B has properly operated, he may release the selector at that station by operating his key 9. .The release of the selector will open the circuit of the magnet 40, thus opening the contacts 42, 43 and 44 and stopping the answer-back mechanism. However, the release of the armature 41 causes no movement of the ratchet wheel 46 and the contact 50 will remain closed, thus maintaining the signal magnet 55 energized and the signal 56 operated. When the proper recognizance is made of the signal 56, which will be transmitted to the despatcher telephonically over the line wires and 6," the despatcher may release" tame the signal .56 by again operating his call transmitter 7 to operate the selector to again close the circuit of the electromagnet 40. The second energization of this magnet'will again close the contacts 42, 43 and 44. and

advance the ratchet wheel 46 one step. lhis one step movement of the ratchet wheel 46. will cause the opening of the contact 50 and the deenergization of the signal magnet 55, whereby the signal 56 Wlll returnto normal position, thus opening the contact 83 and the same as for station B, except that the current impulses from the despatchers station are sent directly through the selector magnets.

Telephone sets D, 'E and F are connected with the line wires 5 and 6, the set D being at the despatchers station, and the sets E and F at points slightly beyond the semaphore signals at waystations Band C respectively. v

What I claim is:

system, a line circuit, a sending station and a plurality of waystations connected therewith, a semaphore signalat each of said waystations, a selectively operated device at each of said waystations controlling the operation of said semaphore signal, a reversible code answer-back device, and means under the joint control of said selectively operated device and said semaphore signal in either of its positions to cause the operation of said an operated answer-back signal mechanism 10- cated at each of said'waystations, said answer-back signal mechanism being operable in each position of said visual signal to give a signal indicative of the position of said visual signal, local means for continuously- "operatin'g said mechanism when started, and

a selective circuit-controlling device for con-' trolling the operation of said visual, signal and said local means.

3. In a selective signaling system, a line circuit, a sending station and a plura ity of a reversible motor and; a code interrupting wheel operated thereby, a selectively operated circuit-controlling device, circuits for said motor under the joint control of said semaphore signal and said selectively operated circuit controlling device, and a circuit for said code wheel closed to the line circuit by said circuit-controlling device.

'4. Ina selective signaling system, a pair of line wires, a sending station and a plurality of waystations connected therewith, a selectively operated signal controlling device located at each of said waystations, a circuit controlled thereby, a signal in said circuit, adapted to be moved into alternate positions upon repeated operations of said circuit controlling device, answer-back operating means at each of said waystations adapted-to give distinctive answer-back signals designating the position of said signal, circuits for said answer-back operating means "under the joint control of said signal and said selectively operated circuit closing means, and means at the sending station for controlling the operation of said selectively operated circuit controlling device.

5.'In a selective signaling system, a line circuit, a sending station and a plurality of waystations connected therewith, a selectively operated circuit controlling device located at each of said waystations, a circuit controlled thereby, a signal in said circuit adapted to be moved into alternate position-4 upon repeated operations of said circuit controlling device, a reversible answer-back operating mechanism operated in opposite directions in the alternate positions of said signal, circuitsfor said answer-back operating mechanism under the joint control of said signal in its alternate positions and said selectively operated circuit closing device, and means at said sending station for controlling said selectively. operated circuit closing device. a

6. Ina selective signaling system, a line circuit, a sending station and a plurality of waystations connected therewith, a selective circuit-closing device located at each of said waystations, a circuit controlled by each of said devices, a circuit-controlling device in said circuit, a set of contacts closed at each operation of said circuit-controlling device, a second set of contacts closed in each alternate operation of said circuit-controlling device, a circuit controlled by said second set of contacts, a signal magnet in said circuit, a two-position signal controlled by said :magnet, a contact closed by said signal in each of its positions, an answer-back operatmg mechanism, circuits therefor including 0 the contacts of said signal and the set of contacts closed by each operation of said circuit-controlling device, said answer-back mechanism operating in one direction when circuit is closed through the signal magnet, and in the oppositedirection when the circuit is open through said signal magnet, and means at the sending station for controlling said selective circuit-closing device.

7. In a selective signaling system, a line circuit, a sending station and a plurality of waystations connected therewith, an electrically operated semaphore signal located at each of said stations, a circuit therefor, an answer-back mechanlsm, a c1rcu1t therefor including contacts controlled by said adapted to give a distinctive signal indicative of the particular position of said semaphore signal, operative circuits for said answer-back mechanism including contacts closed in each position of said semaphore signal, selective circuit-controlling means for controlling the circuit of said semaphore signal and completing the circuits for sa1d answer-back mechanism, and means at said sending station for' controlling the operatrically operated semaphore signal at each of said waystations, a circuit therefor, a selective circuit-controlling device operated in response to current impulses from-the sending station to close the circuit of said semaphore signal and also in response to current impulses from the sending station to open the circuit of said semaphore signal, an answer-back mechanism adapted to give one signal when'said semaphore is in one position and a different and distinctive signal when said signal is in its other position, and circuits for said answer-back mechanism under the joint control of said semaphore signal in either position and said selective circuit-controlling device.

10. In a selective signaling system, a line circuit, a sending station and a plurality of waystations, a signal at each of said waystations, an electrically operated answerback signal mechanism located at each waystation, an electric motor for continuously operating said mechanism when started, an answer-back circuit including said mechanism and the brushes and commutator of said motor, and a selective circuitcontrolling device for controlling the operation of said signal and said motor.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of February, A. D. 1914.

RALPH N. I-HLL.

Witnesses:

KATHERINE L. STAHL, NANON E. TUTHJLL. 

